Department for Transport

Railways: Fares

Lord Snape: To ask His Majesty's Government, given the postponement of legislation regarding the creation of Great British Railways, what plans they have to simplify the current railway fare structure.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: We have been clear in the Plan for Rail White Paper we want to simplify the current mass of complicated fares and tickets, whilst protecting affordable turn up and go tickets and season tickets.We will continue to work with the sector to tackle the challenges Keith Williams set out in the Plan for Rail, including improving fares, ticketing and retail.

Bus Services: Standards

Lord Goddard of Stockport: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they intend to take to improve local bus services through additional financial support to transport authorities and local government.

Baroness Vere of Norbiton: The National Bus Strategy, published in March last year, set out the Government’s vision for delivering better bus services for passengers across England.In April, we announced over £1 billion of new funding for Bus Service Improvement Plans. 34 areas have since been selected to receive funding to deliver those plans.

Leader of the House of Lords

Written Questions: Leader of the House of Lords

Lord Scriven: To ask the Leader of the House why Written Question HL1408, tabled on 30 June, remains outstanding as of 13 October.

Lord True: Further to my answer to Lord Jopling on 11 October (HL2274), the FCDO experienced technical difficulties in uploading their answer to this question to the Parliamentary website, but a response was issued by email, at the time. My office has since been in touch with the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office and received assurances that a response has now been uploaded to the website. The Department has also written directly to apologise for the delay in responding with an explanation for the delay.I regret the error and will be reminding all Departments of their duty to offer prompt responses to questions in the House.

Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy

Wylfa Power Station

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the remarks by the Prime Minister on 12 October regarding Wylfa Newydd power station (HC Deb col 128), when that power station will be built; and when it will be operational.

Lord Callanan: Great British Nuclear is being set up to deliver the next generation of nuclear new builds for the UK. Wylfa, which is recognised as a strong site among others, will be considered as part of this process. Once decisions have been made concerning which sites to develop, timelines for build and operations will be established.

EU Law

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what plansthey have to work with environmental and public health organisations when reviewing existing EU regulation.

Lord Callanan: The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is an enabling Bill that will give departments powers to amend, repeal or replace their retained EU law more easily. Any decisions regarding retained EU law will be for departmental ministers to take.

Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill: Northern Ireland

Baroness Hoey: To ask His Majesty's Government whether any retained EU law will still apply to Northern Ireland after the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill is enacted.

Lord Callanan: The Bill will continue to uphold the UK Government’s commitments to complying with its international obligations. Accordingly, it will ensure that any retained EU law required to maintain our international obligations will continue to be implemented, including the Northern Ireland Protocol. The Bill is UK-wide in its territorial extent. Therefore, the key measures in the Bill will apply to the devolved governments, including the powers.

EU Law

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to engage with the devolved administrations in relation to (1) the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill, and (2) the proposed sunsetting of all remaining EU regulations.

Lord Callanan: The Government remains committed to proactively engaging with devolved administrations at official and Ministerial level on the reviews into retained EU law and sunsetting of EU regulations. To date, there have been regular official level discussions with the devolved administrations and we will continue to engage in areas of interest as the Bill progresses through Parliament.

Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to ensure a fullconsultation with (1) environmental, and (2) public health, organisations before progressing with the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill.

Lord Callanan: Policy on the environment is owned by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, and any decisions regarding retained EU law on the environment are for Defra Ministers to take. Policy on public health is owned by the Department for Health & Social Care, and any decisions regarding retained EU law on public health are for DHSC Ministers to take.

Department of Health and Social Care

Coronavirus: Protective Clothing

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government how much Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) they currently have in stock in preparation for a further surge of COVID-19; and whether they will list the main suppliers for the current stock.

Lord Markham: As of September 2022, the Department holds 9.4 billion items of personal protective equipment (PPE), which could be used in response to a further wave of COVID-19. The Department has committed to providing PPE for free until the end of March 2023 and holds sufficient stocks to meet projected demand across all categories.We are unable to provide the information requested on the suppliers for current stocks. When a product is quality assured and joins the supply chain, its source is not recorded.

NHS: Cost of Living

Lord Pendry: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking tomitigate the impact of the increased cost of living on the NHS ahead of this winter.

Lord Markham: The Government is mitigating the potential public health impacts of the increased cost of living on the National Health Service, such as the effect of cold homes. The Government has announced unprecedented support to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme are supporting millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs until April 2023. In addition, we have allocated £15 billion for the most vulnerable households.As announced in ‘Our plan for patients’, we are addressing the immediate priorities for the NHS in winter 2022/23, through improving ambulance services and response times; creating additional capacity in hospitals; reducing the backlog in elective services and eliminating long waiting times for treatment; improving discharge from hospitals and reforming social care; and ensuring patients can access primary care and dental services.

Doctors and Nurses: Recruitment

Baroness Masham of Ilton: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of efforts by the government of Australia to recruit (1) doctors, and (2) nurses, from the UK; and what steps they will take to improve staff retention in the NHS.

Lord Markham: No such assessment has been made. The NHS Retention Programme seeks to understand why staff may leave, resulting in targeted interventions to support staff to stay whilst keeping them well. Guidance on retention for National Health Service employers has been updated.

NHS: Investment and Recruitment

Viscount Waverley: To ask His Majesty's Government whatplans they have, if any, to support the NHS by (1) outsourcing the recruitment of nurses and doctors to medical institutions in India, and (2) increased investment in private diagnostic centres and clinics; and what assessment they have made of whether their current policies would be in line with such approaches.

Lord Markham: There are no plans to outsource the recruitment of nurses and doctors to medical institutions in India. The National Health Service recruits a significant number of nurses from India and we have recently updated the code of practice for the international recruitment of health and social care personnel in England to ensure recruitment is conducted ethically. Decisions on investment in private sector healthcare capacity, including diagnostics, are made by individual NHS organisations.

Protective Clothing: Manufacturing Industries

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure that the UK manufacturing base for Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) has been strengthened.

Lord Markham: The Department signed contracts with approximately 30 United Kingdom-based companies for 3.9 billion units of personal protective equipment (PPE), which have been successfully delivered. UK manufacturers remain on NHS Supply Chain’s framework agreements to provide PPE to the National Health Service. NHS Supply Chain and the Department continue to work with UK PPE manufacturers to ensure resilience in supplies.

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Baroness Kennedy of Cradley: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made, if any, of the work by Precision Life into possible genetic risk factors associated with chronic fatigue syndrome.

Lord Markham: No specific assessment has been made. However, we are funding research to understand the genetic risk factors relating to myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). The National Institute for Health and Care Research and the Medical Research Council fund a £3.2 million study, ‘DecodeME’, to analyse samples from 25,000 people with ME/CFS to identify any genetic differences which may indicate underlying causes or an increased risk of developing the condition.

Monkeypox: Vaccination

Lord Black of Brentwood: To ask Her Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current supplies of vaccines for Monkeypox; and whether they are anticipating any future supply problems.

Lord Markham: Over 150,000 doses of monkeypox vaccine have been procured with the final deliveries of vaccine expected by the end of October 2022.As endorsed by the Joint Committee on Vaccination and Immunisation, the UK Health Security Agency’s (UKHSA) expert advice is to offer two vaccine doses to a defined high-risk cohort of 111,000 individuals in the United Kingdom. Since August 2022, the use of safe and equally effective fractional dosing allows one vial of vaccine to provide three doses. This is the default method of vaccination in some areas of the country.The UKHSA has procured sufficient vaccine to deliver the current vaccination strategy in full and is monitoring the occurrence, distribution and control of monkeypox.

NHS: Migrant Workers

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government how many foreign nationals employed within the National Health Service left the UK after its departure from the EU.

Lord Markham: The information requested is not held centrally.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government what reasons the RAPID C-19 initiative gave for advising them against providing Evusheld to the immunocompromised in the UK.

Lord Markham: The decision not to procure Evusheld for prevention through emergency routes at this time is based on independent clinical advice by the multi-agency RAPID C-19 and a United Kingdom national expert policy working group. These groups considered a range of evidence, including clinical trial data, in vitro analysis and emerging observational studies. Following a review of this evidence, RAPID C-19 concluded that the quality of data is insufficient to warrant action to progress to patient access.The Chief Medical Officer for England is content that the correct process for providing clinical advice has been followed and this should now be referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the letter from the then Secretary of State for Health and Social Care on 6 September to Gemma Peters, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK, which states that “proceeding to patient access [to Evusheld is] considered to outweigh the risks of not providing this treatment in the current pandemic context”, what are the risks of not providing Evusheld.

Lord Markham: The decision not to procure Evusheld at this present time through emergency routes is based on independent clinical advice by the multi-agency initiative RAPID C-19 and a national expert policy working group. Evusheld has now been referred to the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence for further evaluation.

Evusheld

Lord Mendelsohn: To ask His Majesty's Government why the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency claimed in their 6 September letter to Gemma Peters, Chief Executive of Blood Cancer UK, that there is ongoing uncertainty about whether the results from the PROVENT study on Evusheld shed light on clinical effectiveness, given this study supported their decision to approve single and double doses of Evusheld in the UK in March.

Lord Markham: Evusheld received a conditional marketing authorisation from the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) on 17 March 2022, following trials conducted during the non-Omicron variant wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The PROVENT study provided data on effectiveness of Evusheld against the alpha, beta, delta and epsilon variants. It was noted that there was a lack of data regarding the dose and the efficacy against the Omicron variant, which was the prevalent circulating strain of the virus at the time of the approval. This was reflected in the summary of the product characteristics of Evusheld approved by the MHRA.As with all newly authorised medicines, a Risk Management Plan (RMP) has been developed to ensure that Evusheld is used as safely as possible. The RMP details the risks, how these risks can be minimised, any uncertainties and how more information will be obtained.

NHS: Negligence

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government how many clinical negligence cases brought against the NHS in England were funded by (1) a conditional fee agreement, (2) legal aid, or (3) by some other form of funding, in each of the last five years for which figures are available.

Lord Markham: The following table shows the number of cases notified through NHS Resolution’s clinical negligence indemnity schemes in each year since 2017/18, by funding arrangement. This excludes cases under the Existing Liabilities Scheme for General Practice, which addresses inherited liabilities. Funding arrangement2017/182018/192019/202020/212021/22Conditional fee agreement8,4448,3038,4098,2628,172Legal Aid15714810510058Other funding2,0672,2213,1633,4273,556Total10,66810,67211,67711,78911,786

Prescriptions: Concessions

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of a temporary suspension of NHS prescription charges on (1) patients, (2) the NHS, and (3) the economy, given the rising cost of living; and what plans they have, if any, to implement such a suspension.

Lord Markham: No recent assessment has been made and we have no plans to implement such a suspension. We have frozen prescription charges for 2022/23 to assist with the cost of living. In addition to the single prescription charge, this also applies to Prescription Payment Certificates (PPCs). The cost of a 12 month PPC remains at £108.10, which can be paid in instalments, to allow people receive their required medicines for just over £2 a week. People on a low income who do not qualify for an exemption may be eligible for help with prescription charges through the NHS Low Income Scheme. Approximately 89% of National Health Service prescription items are dispensed free of charge.

Department for Education

Apprentices: Females

Lord Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to increase the number of female apprenticeships in the manufacturing industry.

Baroness Barran: The proportion of females starting apprenticeships in Engineering and Manufacturing Technologies has risen from 7.3% in the 2017/18 academic year to 10.6% in the 2020/21 academic year.The department wants to see even more women accessing traditionally male-dominated fields such as Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM) and those that offer the highest wage returns. 15% of starts in STEM apprenticeships were by women in the 2020/21 academic year, up from 11% in 2019/20 and 10% in 2018/19.Our Apprenticeships Diversity Champions Network is championing gender representation amongst employers in industries where improvement is needed, including engineering and manufacturing. The network published a report during National Apprenticeship Week 2022 sharing best practice and hints and tips for employers to improve diversity in apprenticeships. In addition, our Apprenticeship Support and Knowledge (ASK) Programme is continuing to provide free resources to promote STEM apprenticeships to girls in schools.We are working with the Apprenticeships in Manufacturing (AiM) group, which includes industry partners such as Make UK and Enginuity, to grow the number of high-quality apprenticeships in the manufacturing sector.

Apprentices

Lord Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government how many apprenticeships were completed in (1) 2018, and (2) 2021.

Lord Jones: To ask His Majesty's Government how many (1) male, and (2) female, graduate apprenticeships were taken up in (a) 2018, and (b) 2021.

Baroness Barran: Apprenticeships are available from level 2, equivalent to GCSE level, through to level 6, equivalent to a bachelor’s degree, and level 7, equivalent to a master’s degree. The attached file contains male/female breakdowns by apprenticeship level for apprenticeship starts from the 2017/18 to 2020/21 academic years.Apprenticeship achievements from 2017/18 to 2020/21 are shown in the table below:Academic YearAchievements2017/18276,1602018/19185,1502019/20146,9002020/21156,530Total achievements are the count of apprenticeships achieved at any point during the stated academic period. Learners achieving more than one apprenticeship will appear more than once.Further information on apprenticeships starts and achievements can be found in the apprenticeships and traineeships statistics publication here: https://explore-education-statistics.service.gov.uk/find-statistics/apprenticeships-and-traineeships.HL2731 HL2733 table (xls, 48.5KB)

Ministry of Justice

Prisoners

Lord Lee of Trafford: To ask His Majesty's Government what is the most recent figure for the average annual cost of holding a prisoner; and what is the current percentage of prisoner recidivism.

Lord Bellamy: The overall average annual costs for keeping an individual in a prison is £48,409, this figure is for 2020-21.The latest annual reoffending rate for adults who received a custodial sentence was 41.9% (2019/20). The reoffending rates for adults released from custody has dropped from 50.4% in 2009/10.

Prisoners' Transfers

Baroness Prashar: To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications for a pre-tariff review of suitability for open conditions were received by the Public Protection Casework section (PPCS); and of those, how many were (1) referred to the Parole Board, (2) not referred to the Parole Board, and (3) remain outstanding in (a) the 12 months to 6 June 2022; and (b) since 6 June 2022.

Lord Bellamy: On 6 June the former Lord Chancellor and Secretary of State for Justice introduced a new test for the consideration of suitability for those serving indeterminate sentences for transfer to open prison conditions, whether pre- or post-tariff. This allows for greater scrutiny of Parole Board recommendations on open prison moves.The table below sets out details of information:Applications for pre-tariff sift received in the 12 months to 6 June 2022: 253Applications for pre-tariff sift received since 6 June 2022: 114 Referred to the Parole BoardNot referred to the Parole BoardOutstanding12 Months to 6 June 202213311376 June 2022 to 30 September 202296540NB. These figures have been drawn from the Public Protection Unit Database held by Her Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service. As with any large-scale recording systems, the figures are subject to possible errors with data migration and processing.

Weddings

Lord Desai: To ask His Majesty's Government when they expect to publish a response to the Law Commission report Celebrating Marriage: A New Weddings Law(HC 557), published on 19 July.

Lord Bellamy: We are taking the time to consider the report recommendations fully. We will publish a response to the report in due course.

Prison Sentences

The Lord Bishop of Southwark: To ask His Majesty's Government, what steps they are taking to resolve the situation that 608 prisoners under Imprisonment for Public Protection are at least 10 years over their original tariff.

Lord Bellamy: HM Prison and Probation Service (HMPPS) has delivered a substantial reduction in the number of Imprisonment for Public Protection (IPP) prisoners who have never been released, from over 6,000 when the sentence was abolished in 2012 to 1,492 at 30 June 2022. Prisoners serving indeterminate sentences who have completed their tariff will be released only when the independent Parole Board concludes that the risk they present to the public is capable of being safely managed in the community under probation supervision – and that applies to the cohort who have served at least ten years in custody after they completed their tariff.The Police, Crime, Sentencing and Courts (PCSC) Act introduced an amendment which requires the Secretary of State automatically to refer every eligible IPP offender to the Parole Board for consideration of licence termination annually once they reach the 10 year eligibility point. This will enable the IPP licence, and the IPP sentence as a whole, to be brought to a definitive end for more offenders.The Government is carefully considering the evidence and recommendations of the Justice Select Committee report. A full response to the report will be provided in due course, and the IPP Action Plan will be reviewed and refreshed to ensure it is focused on the critical aspects that will best support the progression of those subject to IPP sentences.

Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office

Somalia: Humanitarian Aid

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of theavailability of food and water for the population of Somalia; and what aid the UK (a) is providing in 2022, and (b) intends to provide in each of the years 2023 and 2024.

Lord Ahmad of Wimbledon: The crisis in Somalia continues to worsen. Drought is causing significant levels of food insecurity and recent data from Bay region in Somalia projects that famine is likely to occur between October and December. Recent Integrated Food Security Phase Classification (IPC) data from September forecast that 6.7 million people are likely to experience food insecurity over the remainder of 2022, including over 300,000 people in famine-like conditions.In financial year 2022/23 the UK intends to provide approximately £156 million in humanitarian aid across East Africa. To alleviate the impact of drought and address the risk of famine, since 1 April 2022, the UK has allocated £52.8 million in humanitarian, health and nutrition support to Somalia. This includes £22.8 million which the UK announced at United Nations General Assembly in September.Decisions on aid allocations for financial years beyond 2022/23 have not yet been made.

Climate Change: Compensation

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they are taking to ensure commitments are made for "loss and damage" payments to Global South nations at COP27; and what assessment they have made of the case for such payments given (1) the flooding in Pakistan, (2) communities in Fiji having to abandon their ancestral homes, and (3) Malawi productively using the loss and damage payment made by Scotland at COP26.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: At COP26, the UK strongly supported the establishment of a 'Glasgow Dialogue on Loss and Damage' to discuss the arrangements for the funding of activities to avert, minimise and address loss and damage. The Santiago Network (a platform for catalysing technical assistance on loss and damage for developing countries) was also progressed through agreement on functions and funding. The UK actively participates in the Glasgow Dialogue and Santiago Network and looks forward to engaging on Loss and Damage at COP27, to build upon the progress made in Glasgow.Information on UK action on adaptation, losses and damages is on GOV.UK (https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/uk-action-to-support-countries-avert-minimise-and-address-the-risk-of-loss-and-damage-from-climate-change-discussion-paper).

Myanmar: Human Rights

Baroness Cox: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the report by the International Bar Association's Human Rights Institute Crackdown on Human Rights Defenders, Opposition, and the Right to a Fair Trial in Myanmar, published on 2 September; and what steps they plan to take, if any, to address the situation.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: We continue to monitor the human rights situation in Myanmar. We are continually pushing for a political resolution to the crisis and calling for the release of all those arbitrarily detained. On 27 July, we agreed a UN Security Council Statement condemning the military's execution of pro-democracy activists and expressing deep concern over the state of emergency and arbitrary detention of members of those elected in November 2020.We will consider all the tools at our disposal to maintain pressure on the regime and respond to serious human rights violations, including further targeted sanctions and keeping Myanmar on the UN Security Council's agenda.

Myanmar: Politics and Government

Baroness Cox: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, to refer the situation in Myanmar to the International Criminal Court in accordance to Article 14 of the Rome Statute.

Lord Goldsmith of Richmond Park: The UK is clear that there must be accountability for the atrocities committed in Myanmar. The UK is supportive, in principle, of any attempts to bring these issues before the International Criminal Court (ICC), where they can be scrutinised.The ICC, however, does not have jurisdiction over the situation in Myanmar and so a referral by the UK under article 14 of the Rome Statute would have no practical impact.

Department for Work and Pensions

Universal Credit: Deductions

Baroness Lister of Burtersett: To ask His Majesty's Government how many universal credit claims were subject to deductions in the most recent month for which data are available, broken down by ethnicity; how much on average was deducted for each minority ethnic group; what was the total sum of deductions for each minority ethnic group; and what proportion of each of those sums was deducted to repay advance payments.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The information requested by ethnic group is not available. As the ethnicity of Universal Credit (UC) claimants is collected through voluntary self-declaration and the completion rate has been and still is deficient, we have determined that this does not actually reflect the ethnicity breakdown of those on UC. Once 70% of those on UC have provided their ethnicity information (excluding those who prefer not to say) the Department will then hold sufficient information to consider publishing the ethnicity breakdown of those on UC.

Medical Equipment: Energy

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government, due tothe recent increases in energy costs, what plans they have to provide additional financial support to people who need to use medical equipment in their homes.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The government understands the pressures people are facing with the cost of living, including disabled people, and has taken further, decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes: the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme;a Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 to six million people in recognition of the extra costs they face, including with energy costs;up to £650 in Cost of Living Payments for the eight million households in receipt of a means-tested benefit;a one-off payment of £300 through, and as an addition to, the Winter Fuel Payment from November to pensioner households.

Unemployment: Chronic Illnesses

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatassessment they have made of reports by the Office for National Statistics that record numbers of people are not looking for work due to long-term illness.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The latest figures from the Labour Force Survey (LFS) for June to August 2022 show that the percentage of individuals who are economically inactive due to long-term illness is 27.7%, a record high (since data collection began in 1993). Long-term illness is now the most common reason within the working-age population for an individual to be economically inactive, rising 3.5 percentage points in the last 3 years to a total of 2.5 million people. Since the start of the pandemic in March 2020, the majority of the rise in economic activity is attributed to long-term sickness, totalling 380,000 or 60%. The percentage of individuals with long-term sickness who want a job is 23.3%. The government has a longstanding programme designed to support disabled people and people with health conditions to start, stay and succeed in work. This includes employment support programmes for disabled people and people with health conditions who face additional barriers into employment, as well as more upstream interventions designed to minimise the risk of ill-health related job-loss, as outlined in the response to the Health Is Everyone’s Business consultation. The 50-64 age group make up the largest proportion of those who are economically inactive due to long-term sickness. The government provides additional support to individuals 50 and over, in recognition of the additional challenges they may face re-joining the labour market.

Pensioners: Government Assistance

Lord Taylor of Warwick: To ask His Majesty's Government whatfurther support they will provide to pensioners this winter given the increase in the rate of inflation.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: This winter over 8 million pensioner households across the UK will receive an increased Winter Fuel Payment of £500/£600 depending on age and this will be paid on top of any other one-off support a pensioner household is entitled to, for example where they are on Pension Credit or receive disability benefits. Eligible households currently receive £200 or £300, so the Winter Fuel payment will represent at least double the support for this winter. 6 million eligible disabled people received a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 in September. Pensioners in receipt of an eligible disability benefit will have received this Disability Cost of Living Payment. Government support for the cost of living now totals over £37 billion this year. This includes a £650 cost of living payment (paid in two payments of £326 and £324) which has been designed to target support at low-income households on means-tested benefits including Pension Credit. The Government has announced unprecedented support within its Growth Plan to protect households and businesses from high energy prices. The Energy Price Guarantee and the Energy Bill Relief Scheme are supporting millions of households and businesses with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear they will continue to do so from now until April next year. This applies to all households in Great Britain, with the same level of support made available to households in Northern Ireland.

Local Housing Allowance

Lord Allen of Kensington: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have toincrease Local Housing Allowance to support those most in need.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The level of Local Housing Allowance (LHA) rates is reviewed annually by the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions and a decision will be announced in due course. LHA rates were increased in April 2020 to the 30th percentile of local rents, an investment costing nearly £1 billion and providing 1.5 million households with an average of £600 more housing support than they would otherwise have received. LHA rates have been maintained at their increased levels since then ensuring that all claimants who benefited from the increased levels of housing support continue to do so. LHA rates are not intended to cover all rents in all areas. For those who require additional support with housing costs, Discretionary Housing Payments (DHP) are available from local authorities (LAs). LAs make informed judgements about priorities and needs in their area to ensure that the most vulnerable are supported and funds are targeted effectively. Since 2011 we have provided almost £1.5 billion in DHPs to local authorities. The government recognises the pressures people are facing with the cost of living and has taken further decisive action to support people with their energy bills. The Energy Price Guarantee is supporting millions of households with rising energy costs, and the Chancellor made clear it will continue to do so from now until April next year. This is in addition to the over £37bn of cost of living support announced earlier this year which includes the £400 non-repayable discount to eligible households provided through the Energy Bills Support Scheme. Also included is an extension to the Household Support Fund backed by £421m, running from 1 October 2022 to 31 March 2023.

Winter Fuel Payment

Lord Marlesford: To ask His Majesty's Government how many households received the winter fuel allowance during the year 2021/22; what was the cost to public funds of this payment; and by how much the cost of the payment would have been reduced if it had been subject to income tax (1) on the same basis as is state retirement, and (2) only for taxpayers liable for higher rate 40 per cent income tax.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: The latest published winter fuel payment statistics for 2019/20 show that 8.2 million households in Great Britain received a winter fuel payment. The overall cost was £2bn. The Department for Work and Pensions does not hold details of individuals’ taxable income therefore we cannot calculate how much the cost of the payment would have been reduced if it had been subject to income tax (1) on the same basis as is state retirement, and (2) only for taxpayers liable for higher rate 40 per cent income tax.

Cold Weather Payments

The Lord Bishop of St Albans: To ask His Majesty's Government whatplans they have to review the Cold Weather Payment given increased energy costs.

Baroness Stedman-Scott: Cold Weather Payments help vulnerable people in receipt of certain income-related benefits to meet the additional costs of heating during periods of severe cold weather between 1 November and 31 March. We keep all policies, including Cold Weather Payment, under constant review.

Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs

Paraquat: Exports

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government whether theherbicide paraquat is still being made in Huddersfield, for export only, by the company Syngenta; and if so, what assessment they have made of the risks for (1) humans and (2) other life, in developing countries.

Lord Benyon: Defra is aware that Syngenta manufactures paraquat in Huddersfield, for export only.The export of paraquat from Great Britain (GB) is regulated under the GB Prior Informed Consent (PIC) regulatory regime for the export and import of certain hazardous chemicals. Companies intending to export any of these chemicals from GB must notify the importing country via the exporter's Designated National Authority. For GB, the Designated National Authority is The Health and Safety Executive.We believe it is essential that the use of pesticides that are known to be hazardous to human health or the environment should be subject to scientific risk assessment, mitigation and regulatory protections. That is why we support notification of the export of Paraquat under GB PIC and support its listing under the Rotterdam convention. This ensures that importing countries are able to make informed decisions before giving the required explicit consent before exports can be carried out.In addition, Defra is progressing Overseas Development Assistance (ODA) funded projects assessing the impacts more broadly of pesticides on human health and the environment in a number of developing countries. We will continue to support developing countries to use pest management techniques which are most beneficial for them based on evidence and the expressed desires of the countries.We take our trade and international obligations for human health and the environment seriously and continue to monitor action in other countries and learn from their experiences.

UK Internal Trade: Northern Ireland

Lord Empey: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the implications for trade within the UK of the proposal to stop environmental checks on (1) meat, or (2) frozen locker products, leaving Northern Ireland for destinations in Great Britain.

Lord Benyon: HM Government is not aware of any proposals to stop environmental checks. Products of animal origin (POAO) from Northern Ireland (NI) moving in refrigerated trucks from NI into Great Britain benefit from unfettered market access. These movements are subject to the same hygiene requirements that any other movements of POAO are subject to within the UK.

Environmental Land Management Schemes

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to consult (1) farmers, and (2) environmental groups, during the review of Environmental Land Management schemes; and when thereview will conclude.

Lord Benyon: The environmental land management schemes have been designed to be as accessible and attractive to as wide a range of farmers as possible. We continue to work closely with a range of environmental and agricultural stakeholders to collaboratively design our new approaches to ensure they are fit for purpose. There is no scheduled end date to our engagement.

Environment Protection and Food: Standards

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government, followingtheir introduction of the Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill 2022, what assessment they have made of the UK’s food and environmental standards.

Lord Benyon: Defra is in the process of analysing and assessing its REUL stock, including in relation to food standards and environmental protections, to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, and what should be repealed, or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill and therefore inform assessments of the Bill’s impact. The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose for the UK’s unique environment and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Maintaining the UK’s high food standards remains our priority. HM Government remains committed to promoting robust food standards nationally and internationally, to protect consumer interests, facilitate international trade, and ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Baroness Jones of Whitchurch: To ask His Majesty's Government whatwas the total cost of the badger cull in England in each year since 2012, including (1) costs to government departments, (2) costs to farmers, and (3) policing costs.

Lord Benyon: Badger cull operation costs incurred by HM Government are published annually on GOV.UK at: https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/bovine-tb-government-badger-control-costs. Badger control costs20132014201520162017201820192020Government costs (excl. police)£6.3m£3.1m£1.8m£2.4m£2.6m£2.1m£2.2m£2.2mPolicing costs£3.5m£1.4m£1.8m£3m£4m£3.2m£3.66m£4mTotal£9.8m£4.5m£3.6m£5.4m£6.6m£5.3m£5.86m£6.2mNumber of areas2231021324354Total costs per area£4.9m£2.3m£1.2m£0.5m£0.3m£0.17m£0.14m£0.14m Badger cull operations did not take place in 2012, therefore no costs were incurred that year. Badger cull operations are an industry-led initiative, therefore the costs to industry are not published or known by HM Government. HM Government costs for 2021 will be published in due course. To put the badger cull operational costs into perspective, below are the annual compensation costs for cattle culled to control spread of bovine TB during the same period. Cattle compensation costs20132014201520162017201820192020 £31.4m£30.5m£29.9m£27m£37m£35.3m£32.2m£30.8m

Environment Protection and Food: Regulation

Baroness Harris of Richmond: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will introduce UK regulations covering food and environmental safety if remaining EU regulations are removed from the UK statute book.

Lord Benyon: Defra is in the process of analysing its REUL stock to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, and what should be repealed, or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill, including in relation to food and environmental standards. The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose for the UK’s unique environment and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Any changes to environmental regulations will be driven with those goals in mind. Maintaining the UK’s high food standards also remains our priority. HM Government remains committed to promoting robust food standards nationally and internationally, to protect consumer interests, facilitate international trade, and ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

Environment Protection and Food: Standards

Lord Hunt of Kings Heath: To ask His Majesty's Government what steps they will take to protect UK food and environmental standards if all associated EU regulation is removed from the UK statute book

Lord Benyon: Defra is in the process of analysing its Retained EU Law (REUL) stock to determine what should be preserved as part of domestic law, and what should be repealed, or amended. This work will determine how we use the powers in the Bill, including in relation to food and environmental standards.The United Kingdom is a world leader in environmental protection and in reviewing our retained EU law, we want to ensure that environmental law is fit for purpose for the UK's unique environment and able to drive improved environmental outcomes, whilst ensuring regulators can deliver efficiently. Any changes to environmental regulations will be driven with those goals in mind.Maintaining the UK's high food standards also remains our priority. HM Government remains committed to promoting robust food standards nationally and internationally, to protect consumer interests, facilitate international trade, and ensure that consumers can have confidence in the food that they buy.

Water: Ciprofloxacin

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the environmental concentration data collected in England and Wales2015–2018 (Hayes & Murray et al., 2022) which suggests that the antibiotic ciprofloxacin poses a significant antimicrobial selection risk, whether they have considered its exclusion from the Water Framework Directive’s Watch List and its place in the UK’s monitoring procedures.

Lord Benyon: Ciprofloxacin has been continuously monitored on the Water Framework Directive Watch List for 4 years. Its removal is being considered as the Directive specifically states that no Watch List substances should be continuously monitored for more than 4 years.Ciprofloxacin is currently routinely monitored in England. Ciprofloxacin has been nominated and will be reviewed under the Environment Agency's chemical prioritisation and early warning system. This system allows the Environment Agency to consider the potential risks of emerging chemicals, including to surface waters (both freshwater and saline waters), groundwater, and soils. The system allows the Environment Agency to sift and to screen any chemical substance nominated using, where available, hazard data and environmental monitoring data to prioritise whether a substance may be a possible chemical of concern in England.

Waste Disposal

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government, further to the Written Answer byLord Benyon on 26 September (HL2150), how many local authorities in England provide residual waste collections; and of this number, how many do so on a three weekly collection cycle.

Lord Benyon: All waste collection authorities in England (307) collect residual waste from households. According to latest WRAP data, there are 10 waste collection authorities in England where the predominant residual waste collection frequency is 3-weekly (meaning at least 50% of households receive this service).

Bovine Tuberculosis: Disease Control

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the research undertaken by Keep the Ban regarding the handling of culled badgers at the Grafton Pet Crematorium; and what assessment they have made of the (1) human, and (2) animal, health risks as a consequence of the way handling was approached.

Lord Benyon: Based only on the heavily edited short video clips obtained by trespassing at the Grafton Pet Crematorium premises, it is not possible for the Animal and Plant Health Agency to make a full and proper assessment of activities, or whether there were any breaches of regulations that protect human and animal health at premises which handle Animal By-Products. It will only be possible to make such assessments when Animal & Plant Health Agency is able to conduct an inspection and consider all the evidence at the premises.

Neonicotinoids

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have, if any, (1) to end the use of neonicotinoids as pesticides against ants, and fleas in pets, and (2) to promote the use of non-toxic alternatives.

Lord Benyon: Under the EU Biocidal Products Regulation (EU BPR), a number of neonicotinoid active substances were approved for use in Product Type 18 (Insecticides, acaricides and products to control other arthropods) following a review of their safety to people and the environment and of their efficacy. These active substances maintain their approved status under the retained GB BPR. Individual biocidal products containing approved active substances are also subject to assessments of their safety and efficacy before they are granted product authorisation. There are no current plans to restrict the use of neonicotinoid active substances under GB BPR. The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has no plans to end the use of neonicotinoids as pesticides against fleas on pets. However, research has been commissioned to obtain a clearer understanding of environmental exposure pathways for these types of products and an independent committee is being established to determine reasonable management of risks to the environment associated with such uses. VMD is also aware that veterinary associations are promoting responsible use of these pesticides, and VMD supports them in that effort. VMD has a robust system in place to receive and record adverse reaction reports relating to these products in treated animals, humans and the environment and thereby review the terms of the Marketing Authorisations as necessary.

Insecticides: Health Hazards

Lord Hylton: To ask His Majesty's Government what plans they have to commission research into harmful side-effects arising from insecticides (1) used in agriculture and horticulture, (2) applied directly to farm animals, and (3) sold directly to the public in many commercial outlets.

Lord Benyon: HM Government’s first priority with regard to pesticides – including insecticides – is to make sure that they will not harm people or pose unacceptable risks to the environment. Defra currently funds a range of research projects exploring the impacts of pesticides. Research commissioned by Defra investigating the chronic toxicity of insecticide thiamethoxam on honeybees was recently completed, as was a research project to better understand baseline levels of pesticides in foxes and hedgehogs and the potential impacts of pesticides on the health of these mammals. Both project reports are due early 2023. Additionally, research assessing the exposure of honeybees to pesticides through the National Honey Monitoring Scheme is ongoing. We have also commissioned research into the sales of pesticides online, with a report expected in 2022. This project looks at the marketing of professional pesticide products online to those who do not hold the necessary qualifications to use them, raising the risk of harmful side-effects of use.

Grouse Moors: Controlled Burning

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what measurements they plan to make of theair pollution and consequent health impacts of heather burning for grouse shooting on adjoining communities during the October 1 to April 15 season; and what steps they have takento ensure that the law against burning on deep peat is complied with, including the compilation of maps to indicate areas that should not be burnt.

Lord Benyon: Defra does not plan to assess the impacts of heather burning on air quality. Monitoring networks measure air quality across the country on an ongoing basis, and measurements are made available on our UK-AIR website (https://uk-air.defra.gov.uk/forecasting/). This service provides specific health advice based on the level of pollution. The Heather and Grass etc. Burning (England) Regulations 2021 and associated guidance sets out the very limited circumstances where burning of vegetation will be seen as a permissible activity, when conducted in the right place for the right reasons. An England Peat Map is being created which, when complete, will help managers understand the distribution of peat. The map will be available in 2024 and detail the extent, location and condition of peat in England, including peat depth. The map will be produced from a mix of existing peat data (including data shared by stakeholders), new field survey data, and through use of remote sensing and earth observation modelling techniques. Burning occurs at small scale and peat depth also varies at small scale. This makes it difficult to produce maps that are definitive and any maps available are best considered indicative. Land managers are therefore encouraged to test peat depth in locations where burning is proposed. If anyone believes an illegal burn has taken place they can report it directly to Natural England’s Enforcement Team, who check the locations against records of protected sites and environmental data and carry out investigatory site visits as required. Any unlicenced burning of vegetation on sites to which the Heather and Grass etc Burning (England) 2021 applies, will be investigated. It would be inappropriate to comment in respect of current investigations.

Department for Levelling Up, Housing and Communities

Freeports: Northern Ireland

Lord Kilclooney: To ask His Majesty's Government how many applications there have been for a freeport in Northern Ireland; from which areas those applications have been sent; and whether the Protocol on Ireland/Northern Ireland prohibits the possibility of a freeport in Northern Ireland.

Baroness Scott of Bybrook: Freeport delivery in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland relies on partnership between UKG and the devolved governments to maximise the benefits a Freeport can offer. We have progressed Freeports in Scotland and Wales; however, the governance situation in Northern Ireland has so far prevented UKG and the Northern Ireland Executive from agreeing a Freeport offer in Northern Ireland and application process. In the meantime, we remain committed to delivering existing economic growth programmes and meeting with stakeholders from sectors and places across Northern Ireland to discuss future opportunities.

Treasury

Bank Services

Lord Patten: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the current oversightand supervision of the shadow banking sector within the UK and its dependencies.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: Shadow banks, also referred to as non-banks, form a significant and important part of the financial system. The Financial Stability Board (FSB) estimates non-banks covered 48% of total global financial assets as of 2020. The Bank of England’s Financial Policy Committee (FPC) is responsible for identifying, monitoring, and taking action to address systemic risks and improve the resilience of the UK financial system, including for non-banks. The FPC undertakes regular monitoring of the non-bank sector, as well as more periodic detailed assessments and stress testing. For example, in 2021 they published an assessment of the resilience of market-based finance (which encapsulates non-banks) highlighting existing vulnerabilities within the system. The Prudential Regulation Authority (PRA) regulates insurers in the UK for prudential purposes. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is responsible for the prudential regulation of authorised non-bank financial firms not supervised by the PRA and is the conduct regulator. Maintaining a global approach to the non-bank sector is important given the international nature of the financial system. Through the FSB, HM Treasury and UK financial regulators are working closely with international partners to develop global approaches to address vulnerabilities in the non-bank sector. On 12 October 2022, the FPC published its most recent assessment on the outlook for UK financial stability. The FPC welcomed the Bank of England’s temporary and targeted intervention in response to recent financial stability risk, and emphasised the importance of the domestic and international non-bank work to address vulnerabilities. Regulation and supervision of the non-bank sector and wider financial system in the Crown Dependencies is conducted by their relevant regulators.

Refugees: Ukraine

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government whether they will consider including refugees arriving under the family visa scheme within the funding of the Homes for Ukraine scheme; and whetherthey will remove the barriers to exchanging Ukrainian currency for sterling.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: To support those fleeing the conflict, the Government has introduced two visa schemes to welcome Ukrainian refugees to the UK: the Ukraine Family Scheme and Homes for Ukraine. The Ukraine Family Scheme allows applicants to join family members or extend their stay in the UK. Homes for Ukraine allows Ukrainian nationals and their family members to come to the UK if they have a named sponsor under the scheme. Further details on scheme eligibility can be found at GOV.UK. People that enter under both visa schemes support integration by providing full access to social services and welfare in the UK for up to three years. As each of these schemes uses different routes to support Ukrainians to find safe refuge in the UK, they were set up to be funded differently. The Ukraine Family Scheme is similar to existing family visa routes, and provision of public services from this route will be managed in the usual way. The UK-based family member is expected to provide support and accommodation for those coming to join them, who in turn benefit from the wider integration advantages in joining an existing family network. On the matter of exchanging Ukrainian currency for sterling, the Government has taken steps to ensure support for incoming Ukrainian nationals opening bank accounts, and Ukrainians are able to convert their currency to GBP electronically at several major banks and electronic money institutions. The industry has also taken measures to support refugees and their access to essential financial services, including commitments to waive certain fees. The Government continues to monitor the situation for Ukrainians in the UK’s financial marketplace closely.

Cost of Living: Chronic Illnesses

Baroness Benjamin: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessment they have made of the impact of the rising cost of living on people with chronic conditions, such as sickle cell disease.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The Government understands that people across the UK and especially the most vulnerable members of society, such as those suffering from long-term health conditions and disabilities, are worried about the rising cost of living. That is why the Government is taking decisive action to get households through this winter, while ensuring we act in a fiscally responsible way. People in receipt of extra-costs disability benefits such as Personal Independence Payment (PIP) or Disability Living Allowance (DLA) will receive a one-off Disability Cost of Living Payment of £150 from 20th September, to help with the extra costs disabled people are facing. The DWP has already processed around 6 million such payments. The Government is also providing a £650 Cost of Living Payment to recipients of means-tested benefits, to support people with low incomes with the rising cost of living. Individuals who have limited ability to work because of their health condition, and are in receipt of means-tested benefits such as income-related Employment and Support Allowance or the Universal Credit Health top up, are therefore eligible for this support. Those living with a long-term health condition, such as sickle cell disease, can also benefit from other forms of non-means-tested support which the Government is providing to assist with UK households’ energy bills. Firstly via the recently announced Energy Price Guarantee, a typical UK household will have to pay energy bills equivalent to no more than £2500 a year this winter. The Energy Price Guarantee will reduce the unit cost of electricity and gas and will supersede the existing energy price cap. Beyond April 2023, a Treasury-led review will consider how to support households and businesses with energy bills after April 2023. Secondly via the Energy Bills Support Scheme, which will provide £400 to help with domestic energy bills. All households in Council Tax bands A-D will also receive the Government-funded £150 Council Tax Rebate, which will be delivered by Local Authorities. Lastly, to support households who need further help or who are not eligible for elements of the wider package of support, the Government is also providing an extra £500 million of local support to help with the cost of essentials, via the Household Support Fund.

Public Health and Unemployment

Baroness Bennett of Manor Castle: To ask His Majesty's Government what assessmentthey have made of recent data from the Office for National Statistics regarding the UK employment rate for October 2022, which found that "UK economic inactivity rate was estimated at 21.7%, which is 0.6 percentage points higher than the previous three-month period"; and what steps they are taking to improve public health, given this is a potential contributory factor for such economic inactivity.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The latest data indicates that the working age inactivity rate in the three months to August was 21.7%, up 0.6 percentage points on the previous three months and up 0.5 percentage points on the year. The headline employment rate for the three months to August was 75.5%, up 0.3 percentage points on the year. Demand for labour remains strong, with vacancies near record highs and significantly above pre-pandemic levels in the third quarter of 2022 (+51%). The latest data indicates that that the unemployment rate fell to 3.5% in the three months to August, the lowest rate since 1974. Our Plan for Patients, which the Department of Health and Social Care introduced in Parliament on 22 September, sets out our immediate priorities to support individuals to live healthier lives and to strengthen the resilience and health of the nation. This includes moving prevention services closer to the patient, expanding mental health support in schools and increasing support for people to start, stay and succeed in employment. Alongside this, the Department of Health and Social Care is currently reviewing all of its wider priorities with a focus on improving the health of the population across the breadth of the country.

Public Expenditure: Brexit

Lord Roberts of Llandudno: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of how much money was saved by the UK leaving the EU; and how this money has been spent.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: The UK Government has determined an additional £14.6 billion of spending by 2024-25 can be allocated to its domestic priorities, rather than be sent in contributions to the EU. This additional spending was included in the overall spending plans that the government set out at previous Spending Reviews. The last Spending Review in 2021 set departmental budgets up to 2024-25. Autumn Budget and Spending Review 2021 plans are set out on the gov.uk website.

Mortgages

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of buy-to-let mortgages in the UK.

Baroness Hayman of Ullock: To ask His Majesty's Government what estimate they have made of the number of buy-to-let mortgages in the UK that are on (1) a variable rate, or (2) a fixed rate that expires by the end of 2023.

Viscount Younger of Leckie: While the Government wants to support those who aspire to be homeowners, we appreciate that this is not everyone’s aspiration and that there are many people for whom renting a home is either more practical or affordable. There therefore needs to be a thriving private rental sector to accommodate these people’s housing needs. In Q2 this year, 13.6% of new advances were buy-to-let mortgages. The government does not hold data on the number of buy-to-let mortgages on variable or fixed rates. The pricing of mortgages and rents remain commercial decisions for lenders and landlords respectively, and the Government does not seek to intervene in these decisions. The Government is, however, providing millions of the most vulnerable households with financial support with the cost of living this year.